House OKs Proposition 2½ exemption for seniors

Friday

Feb 29, 2008 at 12:15 AM

BOSTON — Senior citizens who meet income limits would be exempt from property tax increases from Proposition 2½ overrides under legislation that was approved overwhelmingly yesterday by the state House of Representatives.

DAVID KIBBE

BOSTON — Senior citizens who meet income limits would be exempt from property tax increases from Proposition 2½ overrides under legislation that was approved overwhelmingly yesterday by the state House of Representatives.

Critics blasted the move as an "end run" around Proposition 2½, saying seniors would be less likely to show up at the polls and vote against overrides. But supporters said it is intended as tax relief to help seniors keep their homes.

If approved at the Statehouse, it would not be automatic. Individual cities and towns would have the option of voting to offer the abatements to qualifying seniors.

The legislation, which has bubbled to the surface on Beacon Hill in various forms for at least two decades, faces strong opposition in the Senate.

Senate President Therese Murray, D-Plymouth, would not comment on the bill through a spokesman.

Gov. Deval Patrick has not seen the bill, a spokeswoman said.

"In general, he is in favor of property tax relief, and he has put out a number of property tax relief proposals this year and last year," spokeswoman Cyndi Roy said.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Ruth Balser, D-Newton, passed the House by a vote of 111-34. All 19 Republicans in the House voted against it, along with a handful of Democrats, including Reps. Demetrius Atsalis, D-Hyannis, and Cleon Turner, D-Dennis. The lone members of the SouthCoast delegation who opposed the bill were Reps. Susan Williams Gifford, R-Wareham, and Michael J. Rodrigues, D-Westport.

"This bill is local option," Rep. Balser said. "It's one more tool for communities to use if they want."

Homeowners would have to be 65 or older, make no more than $60,000 a year and pay more than 10 percent of their annual income in property taxes to get the abatement.

The current law prevents cities and towns from increasing their tax levy more than 2½ percent unless voters approve an override. New development does not count against the cap.

Legislators who voted for the measure emphasized that it would be optional for cities and towns.

"Even though it's a local option, it's an opportunity for residents on a fixed income to get a real break on their property taxes," Rep. Antonio F.D. Cabral, D-New Bedford, said in an interview. "I think every angle we can find where we can help taxpayers with their property taxes, we ought to do it."

Rep. Stephen R. Canessa, D-New Bedford, agreed.

"The advantage of a proposal like this is it provides a local option for communities who want to provide some sort of financial relief for seniors in their community who might not be able to meet the obligations of a Proposition 2 1/2 override, particularly if they are on fixed incomes," he said.

Critics said it would result in more overrides passing, with the added costs being shifted to families and younger homeowners.

Rep. George Peterson Jr., a Grafton Republican who opposed the abatement, said the current law requires override backers to make their case "not only at Town Meeting, but through the ballot box."

"This bill is trying to give comfort, to make the decision easier for a group of citizens that generally go to the polls," he said. "They generally know the issues, and in some cases, in a lot of cases, they have not supported a lot of the override questions."

Rep. Donald Humason Jr., R-Westfield, called it "clearly an attempt to do an end run around Proposition 2½."

"It's because we want to allow our seniors to live in a community," she said. "We don't want to push them out. We value them staying in our community."

She denied accusations by the group Citizens for Limited Taxation that the bill is a bailout for the city of Newton, which faces staggering costs for a new high school. Rep. Balser said she has filed the same bill the past several sessions.

She also said it would not be unusual, since there are 52 local tax exemptions and abatements in state law.

But Minority Leader Bradley Jones Jr., R-North Reading, said many of the 52 exemptions are outdated. He said one that is a relic from the Cold War; it exempts bomb shelters from property taxes.

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